LANZAROTE 2 CD TENERIFE B 1
A goal in the final kick of each half earns the Rojillos three priceless points and sends them up to 8th spot and incredibly just five points from a playoff finish.
This has been a strange season with the countless injuries, dubious decisions from the officials and just not getting the rub of the green on countless occasions.
One thing that has never been in doubt is the commitment of the players. Lanzarote were very much under the cosh in the second half from a team on the brink of automatic promotion with young players with that desire to force a passage into CD Tenerife´s first team.
The Rojillos took those punches and defended majestically then in the second half with their captain coming on from the bench Ayoze Pérez, they then began to orchestrate some counter blows to the visitors.
With the last kick of the match Ayoze Pérez delivered an in swinging vicious pinpoint corner kick. Centre back Matheus couldn’t refuse the invitation and timed his run to perfection glancing home to win his side three massive points.
The youngsters from CD Tenerife B will justifiably feel hard done by after putting in such a terrific performance, though with everything that a Lanzarote supporter has seen this season they would find it hard from anyone connected to UD Lanzarote to receive any sympathy.
The two Brazilian boys celebrating a goal each. Keita on the left is also celebrating the news that he is about to become a dad, Matheus had a son a year ago.
Within the opening four minutes of the match the Tenerife keeper produced two outstanding saves both from free kicks. The first was from Machín from 20 yards that was saved to his top left hand corner and the second was from today’s captain Raúl saving low from a bullet of a strike to the keeper’s right.
Tenerife calmed the initial attack and replied in the 14th minute having two strikes at goal which were blocked. In the 41st minute Rojillos winger Kevin Lemes struck a half volley from the edge of the box which agonizingly whistled inches past the right hand post.
In the last action of the first half midfielder Keita was first to a corner kick taken by Miguel Gopar and directed his header into the left hand corner to give Lanzarote a 1-0 lead.
It was quite obvious that there was going to be a reply from Tenerife and they didn’t disappoint. The promotion hopefuls dominated the majority of the second half and Alejandro produced three brilliant saves whilst Leo Marquez cleared off the line to maintain Lanzarote´s fragile lead.
Tenerife brought on Alex Fuentes, a young Lanzarote lad who played for the Rojillos a couple of seasons ago along with fellow front man Thierno and they both injected fear into the Rojillo defence.
Lanzarote lad and former Rojillo Alex Fuentes just about to come on for Tenerife
With the amount of pressure it was inevitable that a Tenerife goal was coming. In the 71st minute sub Thierno struck low and hard into the bottom left hand corner beyond the reach of keeper Alejandro to deservedly level at 1-1.
The Rojillos dug in deep and with the arrival of Ayoze Pérez who was on the bench as a precaution to a small strain began to hit back at the enemy. Late on defender Raúl had a strike blocked that was destined for the bottom right hand corner as the home side continued to mount pressure.
Finally Lanzarote got their reward for persistence of this match and for a season littered with misfortune when the brilliant Brazilian centre back Matheus won the match with the last touch of the game.
Lanzarote are not out of danger going into their last five matches. The league is restructuring and in reality seven teams could be relegated but also there could also be a 6th position playoff finish available because league leaders UD Las Palmas C cannot be promoted because of their B team that is already in the league above.
The outcome will not be known by the Spanish Football Federation until the league has finished and also until they know how many Canarian teams are relegated from the league above.
It may all sound quite complicated though it does make sense but to make it plain and simple and that is every team in the league with the exception of bottom club UD Las Zocas who are doomed has the possibility of either promotion or relegation. If that 6th place playoff finish is available then Lanzarote are only three points shy of it.
Next Sunday the Rojillos travel to Tenerife to face bottom club UD Las Zocas. In quite an incredible league this season a win for Lanzarote would see them back into playoff contention but a defeat would put them back in a relegation scrap.
GOALS
- 1-0 min 46 Keita
- 1-1 min 71 Thierno
- 2-1 min 93 Matheus
